Tetra Pak has started field testing paper straws for beverage products in Europe and will share its developments to support collaboration on alternatives to single use plastic straws.

The straw, made from FSC certified paper and recyclable with the rest of the package, will be available initially for two small size carton packages commonly used for dairy and beverage products for children: Tetra Brik Aseptic 200 Base and Tetra Brik​Aseptic 200 Base Crystal.

Lisbon

The field testing of the paper straw is beginning with limited volumes while the company increases production capacity at its straw plant in Lisbon, Portugal.

“This is an important step in our vision to deliver a package made entirely from plant-based packaging materials, contributing to a low-carbon circular economy​,” he said.

“We have decided not to apply for patent protection on the technical improvements we have made on the equipment and the materials, and instead put our innovations into the public domain​.

“For the industry to achieve its common goal of driving towards a low-carbon circular economy, the entire supply base for paper straws must expand and grow quickly.​”

The company has also been assessing technical advancements and working with a number of partners to explore biodegradable options, such as polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), a polymer derived from plant-based materials which is also biodegradable.

Other sustainable drink-from development projects in Tetra Pak’s pipeline include tethered caps and integrated drink-from systems. The company has mobilised development and supply chain teams, securing extra resources to advance these priority plans

U-Bend paper straw

BillerudKorsnäs has filed a patent for a U-Bend paper straw in cooperation with The Paper Straw Company, which will produce the straw in Manchester, UK and the US, for individual drink cartons such as juice, milk and water.

Made out of FibreForm, a shapable paper patented by BillerudKorsnäs, the U-Bend paper straw is durable and recyclable, based on materials from sustainably sourced forests.

Emma Hellqvist, Formable Solutions, BillerudKorsnäs, said the company is ready to go into industrial trials with the goal to go to market at the end of the year.

The Paper Straw Co is owned by Hoffmaster Group and Aardvark Straws, which is also part of Hoffmaster Group will enable the production of the U-Bend paper straw for the US.